Alrighty gents, time to cowboy up and suck it in... (x350 on the 'bay)

[Iceman]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Matsumoku-Built-1986-Westone-Pantera-X350-24-fret-electric-guitar-/270860214686?pt=Guitar&hash=item3f1086e19e

Dap9's friend finally surfaced on e(vil)bay. Welcome to the spectacle ....

[sarcaster]

not for me - not guitars till after christmas. Although maybe my gal will buy it for me for xmas

[Westbone]

not for me - not guitars till after christmas. Although maybe my gal will buy it for me for xmas

How many 350ma's do you need, you've one already.

Let the bidding wars begin......

[mortarman120gang11c]

This will be an interesting one to watch. I like the axe but will watch and see on this one. Good Luck all

[TVill25]

having an x390 and a FX makes this interesting

[sarcaster]

No bids yet - Is everyone sniping?

[Westbone]

Not me, one's enough. There's only 48

[sarcaster]

Not me, one's enough. There's only 48

yours is very nice, but there has to be a part of ya that wants 2 of the 48. I know I want it - but will not be bidding xmas overrules

[Westbone]

In all seriousness no, ones enough. There's plenty of other guitar I'd like though.

I wonder how many of the x350's have factory active's though???
In fact I've never tried mine without the batteries as it's supposed to be an active tone control and not a boost.
There's no active on/off switch.
Think I'll try it tomorrow see what the difference is ?

[sarcaster]

Mine's passive - would love to hear a play by play comparrison - WestoneFest?

[sarcaster]

Still no bids - someone's gotta be reaching for this. Either last minute bid, or behind the scene offers? The one thing I don;t like about this one is in the pics there is a lack of flame showing. That could be lighting an angle, but looks a bit plain compared to others.

[Iceman]

I agree with you about the wood quality Sarc. The cross graining is very noticeable as well and the grain itself seems less fine than yours, Damian's and Mike's.

I am really fighting this one to be honest. I know full well if I dive in I will be committing to a resto that I may have to sink another half or better of the winning price into it to get it where it needs to be. And if the wood quality really is as poor as it appears in the pics, well...

[sarcaster]

I agree with you about the wood quality Sarc. The cross graining is very noticeable as well and the grain itself seems less fine than yours, Damian's and Mike's.

I am really fighting this one to be honest. I know full well if I dive in I will be committing to a resto that I may have to sink another half or better of the winning price into it to get it where it needs to be. And if the wood quality really is as poor as it appears in the pics, well...

Just to gauge for those into the bid. i think my has a nice flame, but no where near as nice as Westbone's. West's hardware is also healthier looking than mine - in fact I would love to have his guitar and I think his has the active PUP's. That being said, looks aside it is an awesome guitar. Awesome sounding with the passive, very 70's HB mellow type sound. Mine needed a lot of work - refret, new inlays, and planing of the fretboard. So While I think I got a good deal on the guitar, the neck work, which I was not able to do my self put mine at about a grand - and I think it is worth it. I don;t mind dings and scratches - I just want perfect nect and function.

So good luck to the buyer! If ya can snipe it at 500, and clean it up for a few - then that's awesome. If it wasn;t Xmas time, I would bid a bit more now that I am learning do do a lot of this work myself. I would even think of refinishing it (blasphemy towards the purists I know - and I thought of doing it to mine) but how cool would a green or blue flame look on one of these things!

[Iceman]

If I could snipe it at $500 I would do it in a half a heartbeat. Unfortunately $500 is only his starting price and I would bet the reserve has to be at least a grand or better on this one.

[sarcaster]

If I could snipe it at $500 I would do it in a half a heartbeat. Unfortunately $500 is only his starting price and I would bet the reserve has to be at least a grand or better on this one.

Probably true.

But how cool would it to see the flame in a new colour> Oh yeah

[hobster]

If I could snipe it at $500 I would do it in a half a heartbeat. Unfortunately $500 is only his starting price and I would bet the reserve has to be at least a grand or better on this one.

Exactley. I'd snag that baby for 5 bills anyday even though its almost Christmas and i'd have to sleep in the shed for a few days. I'm sure the reserve is way up there. No bids yet - but you know it will get bids sooner or later.

[Westbone]

In all seriousness no, ones enough. There's plenty of other guitar I'd like though.

I wonder how many of the x350's have factory active's though???
In fact I've never tried mine without the batteries as it's supposed to be an active tone control and not a boost.
There's no active on/off switch.
Think I'll try it tomorrow see what the difference is ?

Tried it without the batteries, no go, dead as.
Also had a good look inside at the guts. The tone control is a dual (stacked) potentiometer.
The only other one I've heard about is the one in the reveiw.
http://www.westoneguitars.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Pantera-X350MA.jpg

[Warrn]

Surprised at how negative the review is for the X790, but the way it's described sounds like I need one...

[PaulS]

Surprised at how negative the review is for the X790, but the way it's described sounds like I need one...

Also surprised to read the stats on the X790 - 10lbs in weight with a thick neck. I had believed it to be lightweight and with a skinnier neck!

I would also love to find out - still looking!

[The Chad]

I hereby concurr with you all. I'd seen this thing as soon as it was posted and was waiting to see who noticed! $500 starting bid with reserve = lotsa money as Ice said! Looks like a great playable 350, but I'm not going after it either.

As a testament to the durability of these instruments, the "skip across the dance floor" seems not to have bothered the guitar at all?! Nice.

Somebody treat yourself to this thing! Just buy it for your Wife as a Christmas gift.